Enforcer cop gets new role in shake-up

OFFICER WHO DISMANTLED COUNTERFEIT STREET AND LED GARDENS CRACKDOWN ONE OF SEVEN PROMOTED BY GMP

- NEAL KEELING

HE was the force 'troubleshooter' who led the dismantling of Manchester's infamous Counterfeit Street. Then he switched to the huge task of making Piccadilly Gardens safer.

Neil Blackwood responds to a challenge and he has been given one.

In a shake up at the top of Greater Manchester Police announced today, he has taken over as the new Chief Supt of Salford in one of seven new district commanders appointed across the region.

Ch Supt Blackwood began his career in Oldham 2002.

He went on to take a variety of roles, including covert policing roles, nationally and internationally, before returning to GMP to take the lead on Operation Vulcan.

The operation succeeded in closing down hooky traders on 'the counterfeit capital of Europe' in Bury New Road, Strangeways, after decades of occasional police raids having no impact.

Over the past year the high-profile style of policing has been applied to other operations including Piccadilly Gardens, the transport network, and most recently in Bolton, to reduce crime in areas which once caused repeat huge demand on the force.